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Because West has no means to put more pressure on Russia (they cannot even stop buying natural gas), so it has to talk nicely. US cannot demand, for example, t
by codedokode 2y ago
Because West has no means to put more pressure on Russia (they cannot even stop buying natural gas), so it has to talk nicely. US cannot demand, for example, that Russia gives them a share of their minerals and generally cannot demand anything.
Actually in hindsight the best time for negotiations was somewhere in end of 2022, but that chance is long gone.
But while West cannot demand, it still can offer (i.e. removing nuclear weapon and US forces from EU etc).
- onlypassingthru 2y agoThe West absolutely has more means at its disposal, by arming Ukraine to the teeth. The slow drip of arms has been really effective at degrading Russia (just look at the golf cart brigades and North Korean wave attacks), but an increase in long range capability is what's needed to finish the job.
- codedokode 2y ago"arming Ukraine to the teeth" does not guarantee the victory but guarantees more casualties and suffering. To win you also need to have 3x more soldiers which is not the case. West cannot even pay a salary comparable to what Russia pays to its volunteer soldiers.
- onlypassingthru 2y agoWe can both agree that arming Ukraine with more missiles will guarantee more casualties and suffering... for the Russians. And in response, Russia will do what exactly? Send more golf cart brigades or more North Koreans? It's not like Russia has enormous military resources they've been keeping as a surprise. No, if Russia could do anything differently they would already be doing it to win the 'Special Military Operation'.
- codedokode 2y agoDraft more soldiers, for example. Missiles falling on Russian cities will increase motivation to go defend the country and will make a good cause for involuntary conscription.
- onlypassingthru 2y agoIf the Tsar does resort to involuntary conscription, I hope there are some Ukrainian drones around because we'll get to see the next Great Russian Revolution in 4k!
- ponector 2y ago>West cannot even pay a salary comparable to what Russia pays to its volunteer soldiers Are you sure west cannot pay monthly salary $2500 like Russia does? >guarantees more casualties and suffering As well as not sending enough arms.
- justin66 2y ago> Because West has no means to put more pressure on Russia This is extremely silly. The west has hundreds of billions of dollars of Russian money, the west can supply Ukraine with weapons that are more modern than the nineties era stuff we've been sending, and the west just generally hasn't taken any of the steps it would take if NATO were really at war with Russia, as Russia whinges about. Why is Russia even connected to the internet anymore?
- xkcd1963 2y agoGreat, stealing money is soo European.
- justin66 2y agoWithout opining on the correctness of referring to this kind of confiscation from one state by another as stealing: it's an obvious mistake to treat taking money out of their bank accounts as a more serious offense than making war on them, literally taking their lives.
- xkcd1963 2y agoThis is way more damaging to the institutions of Europe than the war in Ukraine. Countries usually owe each other money, now everyone will think twice before saving assets in Europe.
- ponector 2y ago>West has no means to put more pressure on Russia This is simply false. West can send more arms, more tanks (US sent 31 old Abrams tanks since 2022) more long range missiles. You know how easy it is to defend Ukrainian cities against airborne cruise missiles? Bomb few airbases used by strategic bombers. Bomb few factories used for ballistic missiles production. If west bite putin's bluff about WWIII then west can transfer technology and give Ukrainians money to make long range ballistic missiles themselves. And sanctions! West can put a real sanctions. A trade blockade of Baltic and Black sea will destroy their economy pretty soon. The are so many things west can do. But US president is a friend of putin and going to bully Ukraine to surrender on Russian terms.
- xkcd1963 2y agoYou don't poke the hornets nest. Soon you would see fullscale mobilisation in Russia and you have essentially ww3.
- ponector 2y agoIt is a bluff putin is continuously repeating. Because he knows western countries are eager to bite. Look: at this moment Ukraine is using western arms to occupy part of Russia. What putin did? Same as before occupation. Strategic bombings of oil refineries - no changes in putin actions. This is actually the only language Russians understand: strong actions to show power.
- xkcd1963 2y agoI disagree with you on all points provided.
- amai 2y agoFullscale mobilisation would lead to fullscale disintegration of Russia. That is why the price for soldiers is so high in Russia.
- xkcd1963 2y ago